Now before you all grab your hair and run off screaming no wayyyyyy!, let me explain myself, . Just over a week ago I put an order in for my usual weekly food shop…In amongst the frozen veggies, Chicken breast, Salmon steaks, bottle of milk,. I had asked for Cauldron pre Marinated tofu pieces(toad food as I fondly call it)…these though are surprisingly delicious, no honest, really savoury and better yet salty…(I confess i love salty food way way to much😁) … I was really looking forward to having this for my dinner with a huge plate of vegetables ….

An hour previous to its expected arrival time, I heard that dreaded of sounds,, an email ping on my somewhat ancient Samsung phone…I glare at the offending object sat upon the coffee table, give it “the look”, (ladies you all know the one😠 , . I’m daring it…just no! Don’t you even think it…..too late!…, I pick it up with a look of disdain…And as I already suspected, there in big bold letters….substitutions, …some things I don’t worry about most weeks…but why oh why is it always the one thing you want the most….in this case my weekly bar of dark chocolate and the much longed for Marinated tofu……😩,

If this wasn’t enough, adding insult to injury, they had replaced it with that slab of white gelatinous gloop floating in water ….it feels grosse to touch, I would say it tastes worse, but it is somehow totally devoid of all flavour…impossible right?, If you’ve not had the pleasure …. before tonight I would say keep it thus….you ask what changed?

Well I hate waste, especially food, ..so I decide to try making up my own Marinade…I’ve had some success with fish, Chicken ect…..yeah I know this isn’t either …even looking at this makes me gag…it reminds me of that most dreaded of white fats of yesteryear (lard)…uck…my stomach turns….but once the thought germinates in my grey cells, I’m forced to carry out my plan….so I start with the ok part( making the Marinade itself…

Grabbing a freshly washed out prepared salad pot(salad was delicious by the way…. I glug out(a cooking terminology😁) four large table spoons of dark Soy sauce,, then three tablespoons of honey, a teaspoon of pepper, a teaspoon of onion salt, two heaped tsps of crushed garlic, a tsp of turmeric, a tsp of paprika …have a wee work out…..by whisking the devil out of it…. Finally add a sliced red onion….

Back to the gelatinous gloop stuff(tofu) ……peel back the plastic film….another work out in itself this……all the time making sure the liquid it’s filled with doesn’t get you…(shudders. Take great care here, because this stuff will try to escape it’s confines once opened…. if it makes a break for freedom, hold it down securely with any convenient fork, while you cut it into inch sized cubes, this stuffs very slimey and tricksy…but it will be worth it honest…….

Drown…..I mean marinate the cubes for as long as possible, I left mine for three hours( three days may have been more appropriate though😁….making sure it’s all covered, put a cover over it so it can’t escape…. When content it’s drowned ermmmmm Marinated long enough, cook for 30 minutes in the oven on a shallow dish….I have to say….it tasted really good….I’m going to try the other half of the pack tomorrow or when I’m brave enough …… happy eating folks, 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃.

I’ve not really been inspired to go walking much of late, I’ve been fighting off some dreaded lurgy or another, one that seems to have given me much sleeping sickness,(I’ve taken to drop of at any point during the days of late) some weird sort Ague or another…though today wasn’t to be one of those days…

A high temperature or no I felt this over whelming need to take the air, a constitutional, turn around the park…So without further ado, Putting on my thick black fleece hooded sweat shirt, fluffy socks and sweat pants I set off before doubts or worse, laziness could talk me out of it, . The last two days here and abouts have been shrouded in thick fog, it too inspired me to venture forth, plus the nearer to the park fields I became, the denser it seems it grew….

Some places it swirled about itself, hovering a foot or so just above the ground, others it was just fine whispiness, but still damp non the less….plants leafy edges were coated in a fine almost like white dust, looking for all the world like something or someone had woken early and sprinkled them with a fine shifted icing sugar.. larger shrubs like the BlackBerry have been fooled into flowering once again, pink edged flowers looking strange amongst the blackened curling dying leaves and naked branches,. but more impressive still were the large thick silky woven webs, each white and heavy with the accrued abundance of moisture, droplets formed to make jewel like strings of diamonds, light fragments refracting into myriads of colours and I for one was besotted with the beauty of this new enchanted world.

Trees became pale ghostly shadows in the distance, haunting the dull Autumn grey skyline, only those with some brave remnants of leaves shone out against the dreary sky…they looking stunning and simply by their nature put on a glorious show of their own, Burnished coppers, deepest reds and golden yellows broke up the gloom, their bright coloured leaves lay prone upon dewy spiked grasses beneath their feet, i couldn’t help but playfully kick them into the air, enjoying the crisp crunch and rustling as I walked along….

You could feel the sheer volume of dampness in the air, but not only that you could see it in the smoke like whisps as they shimmered in the soft breeze, . Particules had gathered in the trees, forming big fat droplets that hung precariously on the fingertips of black Hawthorne branches, until weight caused them to finally drop on the already sodden earth with a gentle splat…..my hair became wet the longer I walked, plastering against my skull, yet still despite the greyness, the mists and damp, I didn’t feel cold, there were no breathy trails upon the air like normal November mist filled days, it felt unusually calm and mild….

In the distance I saw a few outlines of intrepid dog walkers, bundled up against the wet….Some I even passed a moment or two with, but I felt the need to hurry along, not wanting to share this mystical of world’s with anyone for any length, instead selfishly wanting to enjoy it for myself…feet caked in great clumps of sticky dark mud, I ploughed on regardless, stopping only to take the odd picture of a bright orange toadstall, clumps of webs decorating red berried Rowan trees, or droplets forming on spiralled tendrils of bright green ferns….

My walk was short but most sweet and filled with nature’s wondrous bounty, feeding my romantic filled mind with such wild fascinations,thoughts….as I headed home I looked up into the deep heavy grey sky to see the shadowy outstretched winged form of floating crows, looking for all the world like they hung there suspended in time and motion….I enjoyed the uneasy quietness of the afternoon, until I saw home before me, part of me wanted to go in and enjoy a large mug of welcome coffee curled up with a book on my sofa, but for the most I wanted to remain outside in the swirling Autumnal mist….stay well and take care of you x 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

Over the past week or two, myself and sleep have had a rather serious parting of the ways,, it all starts out so very promising too, . Early on in Evenings I begin to unwind, relax, dare I say, even start to feel somewhat tired, if I’m laying on my bed, I get that nice warm fussy melting into the bed sleepy sensation, those series of odd micro dreams, you know the ones right?…..but the minute I get to go to bed for realsy. Pingggggg! My eyes are wide open, I couldn’t be more awake if I snorted a pot of coffee neat, followed by a sugar chaser…I’m so awake that any sleepy sensations have been kept on hold for over a week and out the door, I try to encourage it back but I give up, settling down to binge watch a series on prime …..

Now being a night owl, this really holds no hardship for me, only problem I have is staving off the boredom, there’s really not so much to do at 3am, but eventually sleep does deem for to show itself at around the time the rest of the world is rising, including the sun….I’ve no idea what time I fell asleep last night, never sure wether to describe it as late or early😁, . All I do know though was I woke around 11:50 later that day, my body aching, and feeling like I had run a marathon in my sleep and hasn’t collected one of those aluminium super capes or chocolate medals,,, what do you mean their not chocolate?????😲😁.

I slowly make my way out to the kitchen coffee alter and sacrifice a few heaped spoonfuls of golden honey to the great bean goddess, in the mere far off hopes that I would scrape together a pinch of energy(works normally, but not today, . Today I was on my own, energy wise, if there was any get up and go to be had, it had long since upped and gone back to bed no doubts!!!!….after much strong coffee, a cold shower, and dressing, I could bare this lethargy not a second longer, it’s so tiring😁, so I decide to go for a walk, (on reflection it was sheer lunacy I know, …I hadn’t walked more than a minute, when my heads screaming at me to “turn around fool and go back home!!!!!!”, it screams continually at me the whole time i,m out infact…

Trying to distract myself, I look about myself, The clouds are racing across the sky, pregnant with many threatening little raindrops,but I can’t help but love those deep grey gun metal clouds, there’s something intoxicating about their moodiness, the way they look so deep and heavy, yet float so gracefully across the sky, The trees by now are ever changing this time of year…, this week their colours have deepened, oranges,reds, golden yellows slowly being replaced, by rich ruby purples, crimson, coppers, and dark chocolate browns, ..leaves loosened by a sharp autumnal wind, pirouette somewhat gracefully before softly landing on the ground, joining piles covering the grass blown into tempting heaps.

Flashes of the brilliant red rose hips fattened by the much longed for rain catch the eye as I walk passed, (what is it that folk say about a glut of berries foretell of a harsh winter?,if true then this one’s going to be colder than my flat 😁 .This said after the heat of the long summer I’m all to ready to believe it,. Once again on the start of my walk i am alone, albeit for the company of a bunch of very excitable large black crows, beaks stabbing at the newly cut grass for unsuspecting bugs and grubs, suddenly taking off straight up into air outstretched wings aloft cawing loudly at a neighbour who encroaches on their piece of turf, ….Magpies cackle high up in the trees as if to laugh at the crows antics, all unaware of my presence among them.

Not so much the wasp though,. no the wasps are only too well aware that I’m there, every few minutes one dived at my unsuspecting head, they come at you from all sides buzzing angrily as if I intrude, which for all I know I could be, they are in search of remaining late fruits, there’s not much left on either the elder or BlackBerry but there’s always something to be found though even if it takes the form of a dropped sweet or sugary drinks can….

The longer I walk, I note the sun has managed to part the threatening dark clouds long enough to burst it’s way through, it’s brief appearance still has some warmth to it, and All at once i,m uncomfortably reminded of the long sleeved fleece jacket I put on, thinking I would feel the cold, I hate anything on my arms at the best of times, it feels suffocating, intrusive,, I feel hot and long to divest myself of it, but then I would only have to carry it….

Walking since Covid isn’t so much the pleasurable experience it once had previously been, I have to push myself to the enth degree in order to complete even the smallest distance, aching profusely, my breathing sometimes harsh and ragid, but I’m all too aware I need exercise, plus living alone it’s the only way I know that humanity still exists outside my four walls,that is beside myself and Jesse in cyber chat land ….

Dog walkers appear suddenly as if from nowhere, as I sit on my usual bench,(I say usual,,) there is in fact only the one😲😁, I watch their dogs meet up with others where they frolic as their owners chat,it’s a very social meet up for dog and owner alike . A small fluffy Spaniel rolls, over and over joyfully in some patch of smelly grass, much to his owners annoyance, She bellows hopelessly for him to follow her, but there’s no chance, his scratching up the grass before rolling once more in whatever stink his thinking is glorious,(I swear I see a smile upon his cute face, after a while he realises mum has walked off in disgust, he races after her, ..I hear her tell him to stop being a Dxck head 😁, he doesn’t care by now, his still smiling and smelling absolutely glorious darling😁…..I’m all too aware at that moment i,m feeling envious,. Envious of their walks together, the cute way his tongue lolls out the side of his mouth as he trots at her side, those 4am walks, even the freezing cold winter 10pm walks in the dark…I see other people throwing balls arms open wide as their dog runs back, I feel this huge void, a sadness I can’t begin to describe even if I tried, I miss my dogs, I hate hate hate!!!! these loan walks, I long for their companionship, there’s a hole in my world each day and nothing or no one can fill it…..

I walk back slowly, aware I must cut a strange figure, walking across fields alone, for no other reason than the need to escape the confines of my flat, some ignore me like I’m not there choose to look right through me, others suspicious of my motives avoid eye contact,. I despise the walking stick that’s essential for me, it creates a barrier between me and any dog approaching that may stop for a friendly scratch or cuddly, all the dogs seem to look worried by it, some even barking, this just hurts even more, I often sit for long spells over there just to be in a dogs presence, it’s all I have right now….

I Go home to be greeted by my little she devil of a cat, her strange little mew breaks through to my deep thoughtful fuzzy brain, we share a moment or three, chatting back and forth about goodness only knows, but she’s there, warm and wanting to be with me, I’m home!, and that was ok with me.

But now comes the crunch, later I had arranged with a local vets, to check Freya for a micro chip and do a health check…..Freya had come along in leaps and bounds, from thin, worm infested fearful bedraggled cat,, to shiney, ultra friendly, fat cat…..she had become so out going and a wonderful part of my routine, in truth the best part…I looked forward each morning to freezing my butt off feeding her before I even made coffee!!!!!!😲, I know …

I should have known by the thunderous omen, monsoon rain storm, something was amiss….I spoke to a lovely vet, who checked her over..remarking on her lovely healthy condition, bit over weight maybe😲, oooops😁😁😁😁😁, but she was looking good….then he picks up the micro chip wand…..And I hear at once an almost deafeningly heart stopping beep, she’s chipped, there’s her registered number in black And white upon the computer screen, I feel at a loss of my emotions, .The vet tells me they will be ringing the number…I hold my breathe ……my world slowly spinning out of kilter,, how am I supposed to feel?, For two months now Freya has been my companion, bringing much more than just a friendly greeting, she’s made here a home, our home….

I didn’t even get in the front door on my return, before my mobile phone shrills in the deafening silence, it’s the call I had dreaded, (Freya as I know her), is actually called Marmite, ..And she’s been missing from her home since February of this year…..her very emotional owner was thrilled to find out that she’s ok, And of course I’m so pleased for them both, course I am!, But I can’t help but know I’m going to miss her, each time I go to the door she’s not there sleeping, there’s no greeting, no one to come in and sit on my lap with a raspy purr, or to follow me to hang laundry….she made a big difference in my life, And I hope I have some way in hers, we shared a moment in time,,,, well two months to be precise, two whole months of being needed,. And now!!!well who knows….it is on reflection the best outcome, and I feel really selfish for missing her presence already, but grateful to her owners for sharing her with me however briefly, She’s certainly been an experience! 😁 a most wonderful, enjoyable, loving experience……it’s so quiet now….

In the meantime the rain still falls, pattering loudly against the windows, a sound I normally love, the odd rumble of thunder breaks the unbearable silence, the world goes on around me, invisible me…and wrongly and rightly I miss little Freya, I just know I’m going to miss her terribly…..take care all and be careful out there 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛😽😽😽😽😽😽😽😽😽😽😽x

Some days I wake feeling half way normal, not quite so sure the other half of me always agrees so much though, it borders on near insanity.My life revolves around bribing my mind and body to cooperate and do what you ” Normal” folks do…like get out of bed in the morning, shower, clean house.

Monday…

I was infact up early for someone who didn’t finally go to sleep until around 3am ish,. When bright sunshine flooded in through my bedroom window, finding its way between any gaps in the two sets of lined thick red curtains . it always manages to claw it’s way through them somewhere. A somewhat dazzling glare prises open my very unwilling eyes, instructing my still sleepy cobwebbed mind, it’s time to get up!!!…zombified I go in hunt of the coffee pot (it’s a true weakness), flicking on the switch, before heading for a shower. I’m not in any way looking forward to it though this morning, I had spent most of Sunday night pushing my shoulder joint back into its Socket, although at the very last attempt it was to my relief finally staying in place, but remaining tender, this meant getting out of the big baggy bedtime t shirt was going to be a fun thing to do….😁, I manage after much deliberation, determination followed by liberal usiage of many curse words,

Showered, dressed and two large coffees inhaled in rapidly succession, I do recall feeling some what human at least, the pain meds from the previous nights fun, by now mixing nicely with my large dose of caffeine,, sloshing through my veins, zinging up into my head which is now not only extremely wide awake,. but I’m thinking more wired in reality…it comes up with crazy supposed fun ideas, like let’s go for a run!!!!, come onnnnn we can do it!, noooo, ok let’s put Spotify on ear blasting mode then we could dance, or work out, yes let’s work out!!!!!, Paint the bathroom purple, 😁😁😁😁😁 My body on the other hand is not so impressed much less quite up for any of this total mayhem…I,m stood looking out of the living room window, it was in fact the most glorious of sunny mornings, So I threw my by now fizzing brain a compromise, let’s get our shoes on and walk, walking is our friend😁….

I really wasn’t up for this much activity in truth, but once I get started, the mild, sunny weather made me glad I had persisted,…walking my usual route just didn’t seem very inspiring, So I walk through a local field that had only recently been cut, it has a well trod pathway leading out onto a main road, I had all intentions of only going up to the end of the track and then turning back, ..I said that was my intention anyway😁

When I did reach the end, I stood a while looking about me, as I caught my breath, its while standing there I notice another pathway bending slightly right, not admittedly as well used as the one I,m infact stood upon, but what it did have were a couple of added attractions, I had only until recently been able to see from a distance. my mind made up, no matter how foolhardy I won’t be swayed, and I wasnt….😁

I was not walking long, when I come across the first of what I had been wanting to see for months now..it was the most glorious tree, covered with Sulphur yellow coloured leaves,it contrasts spectacularly with its sharp yellow colour against the by now deep grey heavy sky, as always it was too late to wish I had bought my camera, I would have dearly loved to capture the tall elegance of the Tulip tree in all its glory…I stand a while beneath it’s spread out branches just looking up into a solid gold canopy of lushness, but before long I know I must make a move or risk getting a soaking from the ever increasing dark sky..it’s still a pretty day but the weather in England is not to be trusted 😁.

I walk along the winding track, the further on I go the more wild and unused it becomes, I am by now relying more and more on my cane, eventually the track runs out altogether and there’s now two choices, do I do the sensible thing and turn back orrrr, yes you’ve guessed it, keep going, the grass is now up around my knees(I didn’t have a handy Machete hidden about me either😲sighs), there’s twigs, nettles, and All manner of things hidden away, plus the grounds very uneven, I’m feeling like Jane of the jungle, just without my Tarzan,(Not sure how my Tarzan (Jesse) feels about swinging from vines in a loin cloth😁) but by now I’m even more determined to get to the end(it’s become a challenge)…It was indeed though worth the effort, Ive come across the second tree I had been wanting to see up close ….it too stands out amid the skyline, equally as beautiful as the first, But this has a deep reddish purple leaf, And has an amazing name, the Royal purple Smoke tree, (isn’t that a cool name), after this I’m soon back on track and it doesn’t take me long, to find a convenient gap between overgrown hedge rows from there into the park…

I slow my pace down as I note, I have for once the place to myself, not a fellow rambler in sight, this is a rare and most welcome treat, I don’t have share salutations with passing strangers, Grin maniacally at dog walkers, or hide behind lampposts from oncoming neighbours😁, No it was indeed safe to enjoy my own company,. And it’s not too long though before I find some mischievousness to get myself into, as I walk on, I see the children’s play area, free little ones….oh dear!😁,

I just can’t help myself, before I can alter my thought pattern the child within is well out and truly making havoc, I’m sat on a swing, swinging like a thing possessed, and I don’t bloody care either!, I’m loving the breeze in my hair, leaning my head dizzyingly back, And looking up into the clouds, in those few minutes I’ve reverted from someone barely able to walk, to child, Weeeeeeee! I say upon each glorious swing, I’m having a ball, so much so, I’m not noticing the nurse riding her bike till too late, or the Grinning dog walker who appears suddenly out of the trees, his amusement obvious….I slowly get off the swing and leave the area😁.

Wednesday …..

Another day begins, on opening the living room curtains, My wild child, delinquent cat, is sat waiting for food,(she’s always waiting for food, four times a daily 😁😲😁…before I do anything I open the door to let her in before she wakes the neighbourhood with her half starved yowling, wild yellow manic eyes stare up into mine…(swear this moggy is using mind control, With any more ado she sat looking expectantly at the draw I keep her food in, never moving just pointing in its General direction accusingly, “Where’s my food?” “your a second later than normal”, I do Madame,s bidding at once, grab the food, we go over to find her food dish, she winds about my legs in some pretence of actually liking me😁, (she doesn’t, the minute I put her food down she hisses loudly and turns her back on me) there’s no love here I’m just grateful she’s outside or I swear she would eat my face off in my sleep, ( I’ve seen the attack of the cat people😁)…..the

I come in grab a coffee and read the paper, but it’s not to long before something moving catches my eye, I feel a sudden stinging sensation, looking across to the site of the pain, having a marvellous free feast was a large cat flea, growing larger by the minute,. Now having been around animals since before I could walk, I know a thing or three about these wee beasties, like they can leap tall buildings 😁, read minds….how do they know when your going to go in for the death pinch?, no I mean how do they do that? . I’m sat still, not moving a blooming muscle, it’s tucking into me with a vengeance, I just begun thinking right move in for the kill Treez, when the bloody thing leaps right up into the air!!!!,

I know I’ve not got a cat in hell chance of relocating the little sucker, I am however itching everywhere, feeling crawling on every section of skin, searching my body every second for the offending runaway critter…I’m just about to go into the bathroom to strip. Bag up my clothes and shower, when strolling nonchalantly along my arm walks said flea, this time I don’t move, don’t think, blink an eyelid, I just move quicker than the speed of light!!!!, I do kung fo proud, I catch that little b in mid leap, ….without checking if it’s there, I hold it firmly between thumb and forefinger, I’m pinching that little dear like grim death, …we go out to the bathroom, I drop it into a watery grave(aka the toilet) and flush, there!!!!!! A nice burial at sea….

This was followed by a crazed day of, stripping off every cover from my bed, washing them in vinegar and lavender, all my clothes, spraying and vacuuming carpets, sofa, …my house was now spotless and smelling lush, the cat on the other hand was not so impressed😁, she’s since had flea drops, bless her hissing little heart, I narrowly missed losing an eye by a flaying claw and she’s giving me the evil eye, most likely plotting a slow and painful death for me, but it’s a small price to pay😁😁😁😁😁😁….take care all and be careful out there 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😽😽😽😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺😺

It’s Sunday …yeah I know you know this 😁, But in truth though i don’t always, being mainly housebound these days, time drifts by quite un noted, and if I’m honest I really don’t mind. Though as I awoke this morning, shuffling out to the living room, i drew back the curtains to see the most beautiful Autumn morning. Sun already up high in a perfect azure sky,

I didn’t get long to let it permeate though or waken my still sleep clouded brain though, before I hear a muted mewing from outside, my lodger otherwise known as Freya, a somewhat semi feral cat, makes her presence well and truly known, she’s stood on the narrow window ledge, tail pointing directly into the air…soon as she see,s I’ve noted her there, the soft babyish Mews, go by the wayside replaced by an unrelenting full fledged screams of protest…..Food,food foooooood!!!!!!, well least I’m hoping this is what she’s saying, because my dear fluffy black furball, goes from cute kitten, to fur ridged along her spine, hissing she devil within seconds…specially if madame,s food isn’t served quite quick enough or to ones liking, take into account here, I am not even fully awake, plus just dressed in undies and t shirt shivering outside, things I do for this cat….😁

Nothing like the chill of an early October morning to wake up the sleepyist of souls…So chilled to perfection by now, I take my icy cold shower…yes insanity I know, but for those uninformed by my earlier musings, I have over the months grown to really enjoy the clean fresh feel of my cold showers…well after that initial holding of one’s breath. It really sets me up for the day…😁, . Washed, finally fully dressed, a large steaming Mug of nectar(Coffee) hastily gulped, I spend a minute or two just laying back on my bed, sun beaming through the window, letting my body catch up with my brain and the day find it’s own pace….

Not sure if it’s that early shot of caffeine or even just a need to escape the confines of my walls, I feel this sudden urge to go for a walk..needing to walk and doing such are indeed two totally different things, But before I have chance to change my mind, I,m pulling shoes on from under the bed and without undoing them first, I cram my feet in them, (thinking all the while I really should learn to unlace these more often, if my children had done this!😁 (well enough said) . I grab my trusty cane from its hiding place, keys and phone in hand and even as I leave, shutting the front door firmly behind me ,I’m still unsure this walking malarkey is the right thing.

But before I can alter my own thinking any, the lure of such a soft clear morn takes me by the hand and inspires me to those few faltering steps out into the wide blue yonder, … first thing I encounter 😲, there’s people out here!!!!!!!!😁, . well Course there is, if I’m enjoying the day, you bet your bottom dollar others are. It’s nice here though I must admit everyone greets each other with a “morning”!,

Even walking down the alleyway at the back of local houses is a joy on this perfect of mornings, high up in two very over grown fruit trees I hear excited calls from a group of birds, they flit from limb to limb bickering,. As I walk below the over hanging branches, I see flashes of bright red, it’s just momentary because their not hanging about,😁 but it’s long enough for me to pick out that these are gorgeous bullfinches, Cobby rotund little characters so bright and cheerful, .Black and white Magpies cackle as they Chase one another up on the roof tops, flocks of jaunty sparrows land for brief spells on the grass before taking off again in a whirl, spooked by an imaginary something or another.

There’s always the possibility of seeing that brief glimpse of a butterfly or two, upon a fence sunning their delicate gossamer wings were three red Admirals, lazily flapping every few minutes, the sun glistening upon the iridescent colours, they of course are unaware of their beauty, just trying to evade being a hungry birds breakfast.

Before long I’m walking on the now lush and verdant fields, that only just weeks previous had been scorched brown by the unrelenting hot summer sun, now fully recovered, rejuvenated by the few weeks of sparse rain we have had,. In the distance I hear muted calls, I know already there’s a local football match afoot. So avoid going onto the second field which is usually part of my normal route, ..

It’s not only the grass that’s found renewed vim and vigour, I note that the hedge rows are a riot of colour, plump scarlet hips cover where once wild roses bloomed earlier on in May time, Rowan trees sway in the soft breeze bracks of orange red berries decorate the ends of each twig, leaves are changing by the day now, every shade of red, coral, orange, golds and yellow…mother nature is most resplendent this time of year and I would be a fool not to enjoy every moment of her glory, before the long cold snap months of winter set in,

Wanting to take full advantage of the day, I bring home a collection of twigs, berries, two or three different coloured ivys, my favourite being the Bettina bi colour variety, with its pale creamy veins, and edges, .this said I also have a love for the dark green waxy leaves of the English ivy(Hedera Helix) that grows everywhere here. . I once read that ivy was used regularly in ancient Greece to reduce swelling, infections and even as an aesthetic…plants are amazing, …The large plump round scarlet Hips I bought back with me, were infact during the war collected by many to make Rosehip syrup, fruits being so Scarce this was indeed a rich source of vitamin C…And can still be bought to this day.

I placed my finds in a vase when came home, they brighten up my room immeasurably, a splash of rare colour against the white walls, I placed some plum tomatoes ive been ripening indoors around the base, their varying shades of green, orange and reds looked so beautiful I took the time to photograph the scene and capture my walk indefinitely…Thank you for sharing my walk, stay safe, stay well and look after you x💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

For over a week now I’ve had this deep down dark longing, more than that actually, it’s a craving, a real need, It had Woken me from a deep sleep many times, late into the night Such was the calling, I had fought it off valiantly for well over a week, but now at the weekend I finally caved in, crashed, I’m weak and not ashamed to confess it.. I couldnt ignore the temptation a moment longer, not a millisecond….I slipped quietly from my still warm comfy bed, not even bothering to dress…..

What could be disturbing my nights so your wanting to know?(or there again maybe not)…..It’s that sweet seductive siren call of “The Cake” of course it is!😁, Its always been a weakness of mine, but for months now I fought it off. I’ve ignored its every torment, until 12:30 Saturday night.fatal!!!!!!!!!

I’m not foolish enough to keep cake in the house😁, that’s just asking for trouble, . So what was I going to do? , well like every sensible woman I know, you get up and make one of course right?, …I couldn’t be bothered to hunt down recipes, ingredients and faff about, that takes far too long….So I begin to Hunter gather in the wilds of my cupboards,

There’s very little in the way of Cake baking fixings, there’s actually little of anything but soup, every type of soup, a few tins of tomatoes, kidney beans ect, the basic tinned goods we all have glaring at us from the back of the dark gloomy recesses of our store cupboard, . Not I’m afraid the best cake making goodies….Not one solitary stray chocolate chip I could brush the hair and fluff off. No eggs, or dried fruit…😔🤔, this left me with a dilemma, a puzzle,

I wanted to be strong willed and slink off back to the warmth of my fleece covered bed, I know many of you more sane folks would have,,Again I open each cupboard in turn, with only two small cupboards, this does not!!! Take but a moment, I repeat the pointless exercise over and over, shivering in my shorts and t shirt. But unlike the dreamt of creamy cake batter, I won’t be beaten…..

Then I remember in the living room laying neglected and ripening fast were five bananas, . I know I have self raising flour, two of the main ingredients for Banana bread….but I don’t want bread 😡, I want cake, .no not just any cake but moist, sweet, sickly scrumptious, glorious Cake, i want to cram every last delicious crumb in my mouth and then lick my fingers, rummage down my cleavage for last lost morsels😁…..

So I go on searching for anything to bring about what I would need, or at least stuff I could make a facsimile of cake….the inner cake demons would not be hushed, they too wanted fed, they like me had one thing on their minds….after a more extensive and frustrated search, I found a few more possibilities…..Dates, Grated ginger, cinnamon, a dusty pot of brown sugar, plus lurking under some pitifully wilted salad leaves, lay a secret ingredient, one that may just help me pull this thing off…..Condensed tinned milk,….I shoved those salad leaves aside without a second thought and held aloft triumphantly the precious can.

Smiling now I began putting together the ingredients, squishing three large bananas, adding it to a cup and a half of self raising flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, a dozen chopped dates, two spoonfuls of a long ago forgotten packet of banana Angel delight(pudding mix for our friends overseas, Half cup of Brown sugar, finally adding the can of condensed milk, even now the ingredients smelt lush, sweet and tormented my nose with promises to come….after stirring the batter well I looked about for my parchment paper to line my crock pot with. As I found it, I also found the sad remains of a bottle of brandy from Christmas long past…..in for a penny I thought, glugging the last drops in the batter……

I set the Crock pot on for three hours, but it was actually cooked in just over two, ….My tiny flat filled with the most Devine fruit scent, the chilled 3am air ripe with an over powering aroma of cake……I took my oval shaped cake from out of the Crock pot….setting it on the side to cool…I had every intention of leaving it a full 30 minutes, well that was the intention anyhow…😁, the reality was five minutes of pacing in the kitchen, until I could stand the wait not a moment more,

I cut into its warmth without a thought, i didn’t give a damn it was still hot, 3am, or that I should by right be asleep right now, I just carved out a huge slice , plopping it into bowl, topping the warm sponge like cake with a dollop of raspberry jam, this slowly oozed down the side, I crept quietly back to bed so as not to wake Jesse from his slumber, I looked guiltily across at his sleeping face, shrugged my shoulders briskly and put a spoonful of the warm cakey goodness in my mouth, as I shut my eyes the better to savour its longed for taste to perfection…..a voice out of nowhere says “what yah eating hun”?, . My eyes burst open and I look into a smiling face , my own burning at being caught red handed…. ” Nothing I say quietly” ” ok cake, good cake”, actually as I chew , my taste buds indulged and I realise this is indeed cake!, Very good cake 😁.xxx

Recipe……..

3 ripe Bananas……1 1/2 cups of self raising flour……tablespoon of Cinnamon,……..2x tablespoons of banana Angel delight( pudding mix)……tablespoon of ginger chopped…….half a dozen or more if you like of dates chopped or any dried fruit to hand, …..half a cup of sugar brown or white…..can of condensed milk, mix well Brandy optional….Cook on high in slow cooker for two to 21/2 hours…….Cool if you can wait that long unlike me of course……ps if you have Jam this is just glorious….pps, I will not be taking the blame for any weight gained …..but its worth it folks enjoy😁😁😁😁😁😁💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩

Earlier I watched dark clouds gather across the sky, Layer upon layer of thick darkness hung low and foreboding like it knew something I wasn’t yet privy to… I went about my usual business, And i wished I could say that I had felt any sort of premonition, that I known what was about to come amongst us and change our world forever, but though an announcement had been made around lunchtime of our Queens ill health, Still like we all do with a most loved relative,you hope above hope they will pull though, that some miracle takes place.

At around 6ish the sky grew even darker, an unearthly hush fell around us, no birds sang, childrens voices became unnaturally quiet, even local dogs for once lay silent, And as I learnt of our Queens death, the sky opened up, almost as if too wanted to mourn, lightning streaked the sky and thunder growled low and deep,We are Some hours on and still the world holds her breath as England gets to grips with being Orphaned, we have lost not just our Monarch but a much loved Mother, Our Mother…

And it’s as if none of us knows quite what to say or do now, how does one react, make peace with such a loss?, the Guider of our ship has left us adrift, And as England Grieves for its Parent, I hope it unites her people, for at least there something good will be born out of this sad day..there’s few times of late being British makes me proud, but we have had 70 years of one of the longest reigning, hardest working Monarchs of all time, of that I’m deeply proud, today is one sad day for England and moreover the world.. My thoughts go out to the Queens family and loved ones, Long may she rest at the side of her beloved Husband Philip, God bless our Queen, And long live our new King….Much love to you all ❤🌹❤

Before we start let’s get a few things clear here, No there’s not another man in my life, I’m quite content Thank You 😁,. That sorted now i will carry on,… It had I’m ashamed to say got to thursday last and I had put off cooking for myself for quite long enough, resorting most nights to one of my many slimming world microwave dinners, which I actually love by the way, but every now and again I like the idea of the whole home cooked meal thing ..So to this effect I raided my freezer, this never takes long as it’s just a wee box type affair….there wasn’t really much choice to be had, when it came right down to it…it was either something in a chicken dish or Fish fingers, As I had already decided that whatever culinary delight I was about to conjured up was to be made via my trusty slow cooker(crockpot) I really couldn’t for the life of me think slow cooked fish fingers would erm quite fit the bill, somehow the image of pieces of white fish floating in a bright orange sauce didn’t set my taste buds a quiver…

So instead i defrosted two fairly large chicken breasts, while myself and Jess set about finding a recipe that not only appealed but fit both our requirements….Jess went through his large folder of accrued chicken meals….this actually takes longer than the actual preparing the ingredients 😁, but over a coffee or three we finally narrowed it down to two recipes, both are a favourite for us ….But as I only had all the ingredients for one in particular, this settled it….(Drum roll pleaseeeee, the winner of tonight’s prize menu award wasssss Mustard chicken!!!!…..

We in our usual Manner decided to adapt said recipe to fit our tastebuds, the other basic necessity being one of not having to stand half a hour in a hot kitchen over the stove… So here’s how it went…..By the way I must elaborate now..Colin is my shiny red slow cooker., Having dragged Colin out of his corner, dusted him off, we began…

Firstly make up a flour dredge…this is a dredge folks not to be confused with a drudge….slow cookers are here to prevent such happenings, cooking should not only be tasty but fun 😁 ………The Dredge.. For this I used Corn flour, it’s just what was in and most convenient for me but you can use any plain flour really…to this add, A spoon of Dried Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, mixed herbs,. the recipe didn’t call for it but I added a pinch of Paprika just to spice things up a little,, a teaspoon of Black pepper, teaspoon of salt….mix well ..

Take your breasts.(This is the chicken breasts 😁) dredge or coat thoroughly in flour mix,(Save left over dredge for later)…. in the meantime, heat a skillet( frying pan) with a little olive oil or vegetable if you have that…sesame oil is also good too….place the breast in the oil(again just to reiterate this is the chicken breast, (don’t want any Mrs or Mr Doubt Fire happenings in my watch😁) Cook each side for five minutes or until a golden brown…take out the pan and place on a plate to one side…..in the same oil add one chopped red onion(myself and Jess both prefer two) Sliced mushrooms, again we use a whole Punnet because we love them,( plus we are greedy) 😁, add garlic to taste…my taste goes along the grain of four cloves of Black garlic, three white…yup no vampires dare enter this abode, plus their not sharing my food..mmmhmmm, shakes head…add a cup of chicken stock, (a measuring cup) of white wine, keep a glass for slurping while you cook, or two depending on your requirements 😁, I for once forgot my manners and drank from the bottle….I know 😁,, back to the recipe, half a cup of heavy cream or if your watching your diet, fat free Greek yogurt, two table spoons of Mustard and one of whole grain or Dijon mustard…stir regularly until mushrooms and onions soften and everything’s well heated through …

Put your chicken breast in the bottom of the crockpot, ( Colin), pour your sauce over the chicken,making sure it’s well covered, set the timer on high for four hours or low for six. Go and binge watch something on tv, about an hour before finish, check to see if your sauce is as thick as you like it…if not add some of your dredge mix to a couple of tablespoons of cream or yogurt….add this to your crock pot stirring in well and leave another hour….

The end result was a gorgeous thick creamy mushroom sauce, with a slight Mustard kick, chicken was soft and fell apart, I served mine with sweetcorn, beans, and peas..I had enough left over for the next days dinner….really was an easy tasty meal….

Recipe for those interested….this can be either cooked in a crockpot or skillet….

2 x Good sized breasts….Chicken 😁

Dredge….plain flour….Spoon of Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, mixed herbs, salt, pepper, mix well

For the sauce…after removing browned chicken breasts from the pan,. add one or two either chopped or sliced onions,, Garlic to taste, two cups of sliced mushrooms or more to taste, measuring cup of white wine…..1/2 cup of heavy cream or low fat Greek yogurt, if your cooking your chicken fully in the skillet return and cover with sauce put on a lid and simmer…..There’s enough here for two days meals depending on if your hungry or not….enough for two people depending on how much you like them or not 😁……

She had been walking alone and had had no idea of the spectical she made, there in the road, still dark and damp from morning dew, kicking with quite obvious delight, the delicious abundance of crisp colourful autumnal leaves, .Her brown eyes crinkling at the corners, a wide smile upon her crushed plum lipstick covered lips. .. All she knew quite frankly was she really didn’t care for anyone’s opinion, she cared little and worried far far less……

It was one of those perfect autumn days you read about but rarely see,. the morning air was fresh with just a few faint hints of wood smoke, a cloudless pale blue sky already holding the promise of a little warmth to follow, a subtle reminder of the glorious ending of summer days, As she carried on walking back to her Essex home, an itchy restless sensation filled her veins,.while still trying to Go through the motions, she picked up that mornings newspaper from the usual newsagents on her way home, Her three children Now safely deposited in school, she always felt at a loss without their endless chatter, She took to greeting passers by, yet all the while as she drew nearer home, a dark cloud settled low and oppresively about her, threatening to suffocate, steal her very next breath …

To her it had felt from the beginning a day for leaving behind pavements, roads, the noise of her fellow man, a day for walking away that unbearable itch in her feet, the closer home became, the further she had craved to be, …walking down the narrow uneven front path, all at once a plan formed in her mind.., Stealthily creeping, almost holding her breathe, .shaking somewhat nervously as she pushed the key into the latch lock of the front door,. Entering the very grim dark wood covered hall, just enough though to enable her to reach out, grab a leather dogs lead from its usual resting place, over the bottom stair banister, ….there from nowhere burst an overly excited large black and white border collie, his whole body bending as he wagged the long plumed tail,

Even from his bed he had heard the jangle of his leash, it didnt matter that she had tried so hard to pick it up silently he was ready to go with her, he always was,.But getting the leash attached to the now wriggling, overly excitable dog was near on impossible, doing it quietly was just never going to happen, , ….Looking up lovingly into his mistress,s face tail still wagging furiously, …flinging down the creased newspaper upon the first stair, the pair set off making good there escape, No idea quite where as yet, but they were going, this day was theirs alone, it was about them only….

For a short while they walked with a purpose, a speed,. wanting somehow to put as much space from that door, the very same door that normally held her captive, ..as streets flew by, both dog and his human companion relished the fresher air in their nostrils, they crossed a large very old grey rusting hair pin bridge, down the other side, here the paths were empty, mother nature was beginning to reclaim patches of long ago deserted waste ground, traffic thinned out, they travelled side by side revelling at being alone… The dog trotting jauntily at her leg, She ruffled his soft velvet shiny fur head, his opened panting mouth almost grinning at the touch, at once feeling her excitement, with a pitch in her voice he didn’t recall ever hearing before, she said “let’s run”…..he didn’t know what that was, but by mere tone alone he needed no second invitation, it sounded fun and he wanted in…..he hadnt ever in all his seven years seen her run before, but run they did,him slightly infront, his long tongue lolling from the side of his mouth, soft tapping of claws matching her feet pounding the pavements, the faster they ran, the more distance they covered, the freer both became…

Not stopping once until breathless, but it felt good, no actually it felt wonderful, she stretched up her arm, pulling with impatience a rubber band out of her long hair, the same band that had until now restrained it, waist length copper hair tumbled down her shoulders, she shook it loose, letting the cool air blow it playfully….Bird song came from amid a large copse of trees beside a small waterway… A large group of tiny blue Tits chattered excitedly together, before rising up into the sky suddenly, Green finch, Chaffinch, and sparrows fluttered merrily from branch to branch…

Walking ever further onward, the pavements were uneven, somewhat broken Now, tufts of grass, weeds grew between the cracks, long grasses stood tall, waving,rustling almost like whispers from their overgrown verge, did they see her? , did they already know her secret?, She was a thief they whispered, hushed in each other’s lofty ears….. Magpies cackled in the trees like they too knew, they were in on the secret…

The pair soon came upon another bridge, this one although strong, solid made with dark grey stone, it too was old, between stone bricks grew the browning stems of previous months Buddelia, just weeks ago it would have been covered in Butterflies, Bees,Hoverflies it’s leaves now curled against the Autumn chill, the once long musky perfumed purple bracks, now crisp and brown lay abandoned, …Halfway up the bridge was a large wooden gate, it,s useful days as a barrier for cattle now long over, it stood ajar, grass growing up and around it now, preventing it ever shutting these days…but it still held life, for bright green soft mosses had laid claim to deep weathered cracks, its rusting hinges became home to the industrious red spider mite…..She leant against it, while looking all around, marvelling at the beauty that grew up out of nowhere, beauty amongst decay, life ever renewing itself….

Further on stood a huge impressive building, it had once been a very bustling train station, serving the publics travel needs, either side of it were even now, fast rusting train tracks, it had once been filled with commuters, suited travellers, going about their important busy days, suit cases, bags, every once in a while shoving out a hand to look a watch, checking an overhead lighted board for that next train….but now it just stood silent, no garbled tannoy booming its message, now it was mainly a walk through..used as a way to get to someplace else, too fast sadly becoming increasingly abandoned..just the odd person here and there waiting for a bus…. the odd cheeky starling singing amongst its metal bolted girders up on high…..

Girl and dog also walking on through, causing more than one second glance, by now wild copper hair freed from constraints tangled, eyes brightened from exercise and the joy of just being. Quickly they left the big building and its inhabitants long behind, they wanted no truck with humanity of any kind today, conversation was not needed here, for they spoke their own language…..

Coming out into the bright morning sun once more, where to one side, bought them to the river Thames, it also held a long covered structure, a canopied walkway leading down to the ferry pontoon, where once the proud little ferry boats took daytrippers across the expanse of grey water to the other side, huge gangways unfurled from each boat where people hurried aboard, She had more than once done the same,, but no not today…..Today they carried on, walking beside the tall sea wall, it’s pale creamy grey concrete slabs covered in bright spray painted graffiti ….Apparently Kilroy was indeed still dead, And Tracy had ❤ed Dave…Causing you to wonder did Tracy still ❤ Dave or had they too become just a sad long ago memory another statistic…

Passed the small wooden white boarded pub, where Samuel Pepys was rumoured to have once written his diary, Where also many a local had cut their teeth on their very first pint, as she had herself some years ago now…. Further onward was the old fort surrounded by its protective moat , where swans glided poetically and effortlessly upon the glassy water. Ducks called somewhat off in the distance to one another, while large Gulls circled the blue sky overhead, their bright white wings outstretched catching upward thermals, holding them magically aloft, loudly making their presence heard, but she was not convinced the calls were not of an unaccusing nature, eyes were everywhere…….

Leaning against a metal framed barrier, watching the ripples move across the moats water, reflections of white pieces of nothingness clouds, mirror images of the graceful swans, wavy outlines from the fort, ..unsure of how long she had stood there, this still lone image, the wind from the River whipping her hair across her face, but though many stopped by to ask was she alright, yet here she still stood, hearing echoes of childhood past, screaming children chasing each other with buckets of cold water, fishing nets full of slimy bright green blanket weed, life had been so wonderfully free and simple then…..

Looking into the sky she knew it was all to soon time to return to the demands of her other life, the life filled with wants of her time, her precious time, but then it wasn’t hers was it, it never had been…every hour, minute, second until exhaustion claimed her, was accountable, to another, who spent her time all to freely, there were no weekends or days off, each day rolled into the last….year after endless year.

Walking slowly , the spring now gone from both of their step, they walked via the road that passed the pretty common to home, coloured ponies grazed freely amongst the tufted rye grass, one looked up to watch the strangers as they passed by, before returning his head to the task at hand, She knew it was just a delay tactic, but even minutes were to be grabbed at…

Over cattle grids, the old hump back bridge onto the homeward path, deep in her dreamworld, clinging hopelessly to any residual moments of their glorious day, so wrapped up in thought that she did not see the smiling face of an old friend. Or her name being called,. the wind carrying it quickly away along with her distant dreams, Finally the dogs head looking behind him made her turn, recognising the face immediately, She walked back.

All at once embarrassed by the untamed hair, and the state of her appearance, She apologised, Her friend of her childhood, grabbed a straying tendril of her hair, laughed heartily and said, “I’ve not seen you look this well in years, his smile genuine, you look beautiful actually”….she doubted at once the beautiful bit looking down at her muddy feet…but knew she had indeed felt well and more truely at peace than she had in a lifetime….she recanted her day, her perfect, glorious free day, her stolen few hours, hours away from the bonds of servitude….a solitary tear made its way down her red cheek, turning her face away at once, to hide it from him she left, long after he stood confused, watching the sad small figure until she turned the corner….

Even before she put the key into the lock at her door, She sensed malice, her hair stood up at the nape of her neck, her dogs large brown eyes at once showed concern for his beloved mistress, he felt her fear, smelt anguish oozing from her very pours, it was too late to walk away, there was nowhere to go, escapes all gone now….before she could steal herself to move, the door whipped open, all she had feared stood before her, vitriolic words tumbled one after the other, hate spat directly into her face….accusation, poison, anger directed her way…the stolen day disappeared into ethos, guilt wracked her mind for what she knew not, the beauty was no longer……but it was a day some thirty years later she would treasure forever, taking it out to relive in times of great need…..two days later her beloved companion Matt (her dog was no more) …together that would always be their day….a perfect stolen day, a day they would always walk together perhaps still did…..

Over the last three to four months I’ve taken to Meandering about locally for short walks,(mainly for the exercise) And usually i follow a similar route,(Varying could get me most likely lost in the wilds of town, my sense of direction being non existent at best) while out though I’ve started seeing the odd familiar faces , we casually pass small pleasantries before being about our way, Sometimes just for the sake of it I do alter my route and go around the opposite direction gives it a whole new prospective , 😁,

But these small walks are indeed invaluable, leading such a solitary life isn’t quite all its cracked up to be, for thirty minutes or so each day, I join the general populous and pretend to be somewhat sociable….note the pretend here… On these walks I have found several places that I like to sit, depending on my mood of course, one is the park bench, (this relies totally on whether it’s already occupied already of course😁, if I’m lucky I get to sit there for ten minutes,or until anyone comes along then I make good my escape before they want to talk at me!!!!!😁.

The last few days however, now that the sting of heat from our latest heatwave has done it’s worst, the small bench is occupied mostly, it doesn’t matter though, and it’s good to see others enjoying it, the way I do, So I like to find myself quieter spots to unwind, I’m not really fussy either, this can be any patch of grass not inhabited by dog poop or discarded rubbish, …my favourite spot is about halfway on my daily constitutional, there under a huge Larch tree for shade,. Where even on the warmest of evenings the breeze blows through its leaves, giving off the sound of the sea playfully making its way through pebbles on the shore,.I like to fool myself im sat quietly on a beach someplace as the sun dips down behind the waves….this is all very well and good for me, but of late it’s caused more than a few stares from local dog walkers, even concerned comments from some, ” Are you ok? ” being favourite, I do my best to assure them i am indeed fine, And I am most grateful for their concern, it is all very genuine., but I really do just love to park myself there and enjoy a moment or three,

I cause even more of a backward glance, when I’m sat shoes and socks asunder, toes wiggling in the cool grass, it maybe have something to do with the fact my feet and ankles are bandaged or just you don’t expect to find someone sat there at that time alone, But whatever it is i don’t intend giving it up😁,

Saturday(There be dragons

Saturday afternoon I found my spot, sat somewhat ungainly (it’s far worse getting up again believe me😁) but I hadnt been there long, shoes off, when I heard a low drone overhead, on looking up into a perfectly blue sky there hovering erratically was this spectacular female dragonfly, she flew back and forth several times, almost like she too couldn’t believe her eyes, the longer I sat there, the more came a calling, mainly females though, but for one far larger, broader bodied male, he was the most gorgeous iridescent blue , the sunlight reflecting upon his lacy wings and as always I felt a certain amount of privilege to be sat amongst them.

Saturday afternoon also bought about another small visitor, .On my return from my walk, I went out to the garden to bring in the laundry, There sat amongst a very overgrown patch of weeds and brambles was a black and ginger cat,.Her large gold eyes sleepily blinked at me in surprise, I’ve seen her hanging about many times since living here, I just presumed she lives locally, But this day was to be different for us, instead of taking to her heals as soon as I got anywhere near…she mewed, I answered back in my best cattonese, she replied, and there the dialogue between us began in earnest….

We carried on chatting until I walked away, convinced she would go about her merry way. But after I walked away from the laundry area, I heard a low quite mournful mews in the distance, I went to the front door, I had deliberately left open behind me to let in the warm afternoon air, There to my surprise and bold as brass sat this cat, As I walked toward her though, she at once hissed rudely…..I tried explainin that while of course she was more than welcome to visit any time, but swearing at the host is not at all lady like…where upon she turned tail swearing under her breath as she stormed off, . I imagined this was the last I would see of my feline friend, …but within minutes she returned, tail swishing and mewing loudly, .I made free to offer my surprise guest some roast chicken, which she gulped down in the most alarming and unlady like manner.., After which she polished off the sausages, chicken and a tin of fish, 😲

My food it seems was indeed most welcome, but if I should move even in the slightest my new found friend would show her displeasure very openly…Within minutes she had made herself perfectly at home in my living room, (well what previously I took for my livingroom, again if I dare to move any, even twitch, the little Madame hissed her rebuke, ….seemed my big comfy red sofa was of course now her area, I was relegated to the floor, …..I spoke softly to my new flat mate, she just gave me a filthy look and turned her dear little back, …my legs soon becoming stiff, painfully numb even…, while she belly now filled and very comfortable thank you, promptly fell asleep….

She stayed an hour, still hissing at my every move, I sat bursting for the bathroom, not daring to displease her ladyship, .This was Saturday, She has deigned fit to visit me three times daily ever since, now has her own little bowl, a drawer full of cat food and of course the sofa is hers….I may Stroke her on her terms alone, if I dare to try this without one’s permission I get given short shrift on no uncertain terms, if I don’t open the door quick enough for madame, she dives through the window, glaring at me accusingly, I feel guilty for what, I’m unsure of yet but apologise at once for the inconvenience, while she strolls about inspecting the place, her dear nose stuck in the air…I feel put in my place and of course go about catering to her demands, …..there’s something not quite right here i,m sure 😲😁, but I have put out notices to see if Madame has a home or we are indeed stuck with each other for the foreseeable future, she is I must admit brightening up my otherwise dull days though…. Take care all and I will let you know of my new house guests status….❤❤💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛